Repatriation of the Remains of Military Personnel and Dependants 1955 - 1971

Te Auraki (The Return)

In April 2017 the Government extended an offer to families of Service personnel and dependants buried abroad since 1 January 1955 to repatriate them at public expense.

In late March 2018 the Government directed that, depending on family preferences, all Service personnel and dependants who were buried or reburied abroad since 1 January 1955 were repatriated as part of Te Auraki, regardless of where they were interred.

The project is now closed. The NZDF repatriated 35 personnel in four tranches from six countries:

Three servicemen from Fiji and American Samoa were returned to New Zealand on 7 May 2018.

26 servicemen and one child from Malaysia and one serviceman from Singapore were returned to New Zealand on 21 August 2018.

Two servicemen from the United Kingdom were returned to New Zealand on 26 September 2018.

Two servicemen from the Republic of Korea were returned to New Zealand on 7 October 2018.

If you have a query regarding Te Auraki then please contact the New Zealand Defence Force by e-mailing: media@nzdf.mil.nz